Machine for treating hides, skins, and leather



Mafch 3l, 1936. J. H. CONNOR MACHINE FOR TREATING HIDES, SKINS, AND LEATHER Fied July 9, l1934 2 sheets-sheet 1 HCM@ hm( March '31, 1936.

J. H. coNN'oR' 2,035,461 I MACHINE FOR TREATING HIDE'S, `SKINS, AND LEATHER Filed July 9, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 31., 1936 UNTE STATES PATENT CFFICE MACHINE Fon TREATING HIDEs, SKINS, AND LEATHER Application July 9, 1934, Serial No. 734,257

23 Claims. (Cl. 149-19) This invention relates to machines for treating hides, skins and leather. While the invention is illustrated as embodied. in a machine for performing putting-out operations upon skins and other relatively light pieces of leather it is to be understood that the invention and various important features thereof may have other applications and uses.

It is an object of the invention to expedite putting-out operations upon pieces of work through the provision of a multiplicity of work treating tools in an organization so arranged that all portions of the work may be operated upon to secure the best results in a minimum time during which relative movement between the work and the tools is also kept at a minimum. Another object of the invention is to provide for control by the operator of the movements of the tools and of the relative movement between the tools and the pieces of work so that the duration of treatment and the pressure at which the tools operate may be determined by the operator in accordance with variations in the work pieces and in the results desired. A still furtherV object is to' p-rovide a machine of general utility for performing operations upon hides, skins, and leather which will be especially simple in construction and highly eicient for the purposes intended.

To these ends and in accordance with an important feature of the invention there is provided in the illustrated construction a plurality of work treating tools supported and operated by a number of endless carriers of different lengths arranged in pairsA in end to end relation to each other in such manner that the space between. the carriers of one pair is staggered with respect to a corresponding space between the carriers of another pair, and the length of each pair of carriers being greater than the greatest straight line dimension of theV pieces of work to be treated. By this arrangement all portions of the work may be treated upon proper relative movements of the work and the tool carriers, since the portion of the work not operatedupon, due to a space or spaces between certain of the carriers, is subsequently operated upon by another pair of carriers which covers the space or spaces between the carriers during said relative movementY between the work and said carrie-rs'.

In. the illustrated construction designed specially to perform putting-out operations on skins, the tools are slickei` blades and the blade carriers are arranged in parallelism, relative rotative movement between each piece of work and the blade carriers through substantially 180 being provided for in such manner that all portions of the work are treated upon such relative movement, during which the blades are caused to operate upon the work through movement of the operative runs of the carriers in opposite directions in each pair of carriers. With this arrangement, the skins are stretched out in extended condition at the same time that the grain surface is smoothed out and water removed from the skins by the slicker blades.

Conveniently and as shown, the tool carriers are supported by a turret rotatably mounted upon a shaft arranged to serve as a source of power for rotating the turret and for driving the endless tool carriers. By this arrangement there is provided a simple and compact organization for efiecting movement of the tools over the work in work treating operations and also relative movement between the work and the tools to secure treatment of all portions of the work.

A further feature of the invention comprises means for automatically varying the pressure at which the tools operate upon the work so that different portions of the work may receive treatment which varies with the requirements of said portions. As shown, pressure is applied to the tool carriers by means of a stationary cam having its high portions located to effect the application of greater pressure upon the tools when the latter are operating upon neck, back, and butt portions of the skins properly placed to secure the desired operation, while lower portions of the same cam permit lessening of the pressure upon the ank and belly portions of the skins.

These and other important features of the invention and novel combinations of parts' will now be described in detail in the specification and then pointed out more particularly in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional View of a putting-out machine illustrating one embodiment of the invention; n

Fig. Y2 is a sectional view along the line II--II of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view along the line III-III of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view along the line IV-IV of Fig. l showing the bladed belts in plan View;

Fig. 5 is a detail of an electrical control mechanism for the driving means of the traveling work supporting belt;

Fig. 6 is a plan view from abo-ve of a detail at one end. of the machine;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view along the line VII--VII of Fig. l; and

Fig. 8 is a plan view, on a larger scale, of a modified construction of a blade carrying belt.

In the illustrated machine, which is specially designed to perform putting-out operations upon tanned skins, there is disclosed a Work support comprising an endless belt I0 which is preferably of rubber or rubberized fabric. For supporting and driving the belt I0 there is provided a driving roll I2 at one end of the machine arranged to be driven by a pair of sprockets (not shown) and a sprocket chain I4, the latter being driven from a suitable source of power, such as an electric motor I 6. At its other end the belt I0 passes around an idler roll I8 having journal bearings in the frame of the machine and adjustably supported so that proper tension may be secured in the belt I6. For supporting the belt l0 throughout the greater length of its upper run there is provided a table 20 adjustably supported as indicated at 22 so that it may be made to co-operate properly with the work treating devices above the belt I0, it being clear that the table 2|) supports the belt I0 against the thrust of said work treating devices. Preferably and as shown, the upper run of the belt I is supported in part by a mem,- ber 2| provided with a multiplicity of anti-friction rolls 23, the purpose being to support the belt I0, where it is not backing the work against the thrust of treating tools, by a supporting member which will present an almost frictionless surface to the belt IIJ.

Preferably and as shown, the work treating devices mentioned in the foregoing paragraph comprise endless traveling carriers or belts 24, 26, 28 and 36 (Fig. 4) each carrier or belt carrying a plurality of blades 32. Upon inspection of Fig. 4 it will be observed that the space between the blade carriers 24 and 26 indicated by reference character 34 is staggered with respect to the space between the other pair of carriers 28 and 38 indicated at 36, the purpose being to secure treatment of all portions of the work during relative movement between the work and the bladed carriers. As shown, the carriers or belts 26 and 30 are carried by a frame comprising side bars 38 and 40 joined at their outer ends by a shaft 42 (Fig. 1) journaled in said side bars and having secured to one end thereof a sprocket wheel 44 (Figs. 3 and 4) arranged to be driven by a sprocket chain 46 (Fig. 1) from a source of power which will be hereinafter described. Fixed to the shaft 42 is a roll 43 (Fig. 1) engaged by the carriers or belts 26 and 30 for driving the latter. At their other ends the side bars 38 and 40 are pivotally supported by a shaft 50 (Fig. 1) journaled in side members 52, 54 of a turret member 56 (Fig. 1) On the shaft 56 there is mounted an idler roll 58 for supporting one end of the blade carrier or belt 26.

For supporting the side bars 33 and 40 at their outer ends there is provided a yoke member 60 pivoted to the side bars 38 and 4B, as indicated at 62 in Fig. 1. Extending upwardly from the middle of the yoke member 69 is a rod 64 (Figs. l and 3) arranged to pass slidably through the end of an arm 66 of a bell crank lever 6'! pivoted at 68 to the turret member 56, another arm 'I6 of the bell crank lever being engaged by a slidable pin I2 mounted in the turret 56 and having its other end in engagement with a cam member 14 for a purpose that will subsequently be described. For supporting the arm 66 of the bell crank lever 61 there is provided a spring 'I6 one end of which engages the arm 66 and the other a surface on the turret 56. Surrounding a portion of the rod 64 is a spring 'I8 located between the under surface of the arm 66 and an adjustable washer 36 on the rod 64, the purpose of the spring I8 being to provide for the application of yielding pressure upon the blade carriers or belts carried by the side bars 38, 46 when the bell crank lever 6'I is rocked in a clockwise direction by the cam 14. It will be understood that the bell crank lever 67 movably supports the outer ends of the side bars 38 and 40 and, perforce, the outer ends of the blade carriers or belts 26 and 30, while the other ends of the belts are supported upon the shaft 58 carried by the side walls of the turret 56.

As clearly indicated in Figs. 1 and 4 the bladed belts 24 and 28 are carried by a frame member comprising side bars 82, 64 pivoted at their inner ends upon a shaft 86 journaled in side niembers 52 and 54 of the turret 56, the outer ends of the side bars 82 and 84 being supported by another yoke member 66 which is supported and operated in a manner exactly similar to the yoke member 66 rst described. Hence, corresponding i reference characters are applied to the supporting and operating parts for the second yoke member 60 without further description of the same.

Secured to the side bars 38 and 48 is a backing member 90 (Fig. 1), the said member 96 being of 12 work while the latter is resting upon the belt I0 I..

in that portion thereof supported by the table 20. As indicated, the backing member 90 is adjustably secured by screw threaded rods 92 to the said side bars 38^and 4I). In connection with the bladed belts 24 and 28 there is provided a backing member 94 similar in all respects to the backing member 90 and similarly mounted.

For supporting the inner end of the blade carriers or belts 24 and 30 there is provided a shaft 96 (Figs. l and 2) secured at its ends in the side members 52 and 54 of the turret 56. Rotatably mounted on the shaft 96 are two idler rolls 98 and |00, the roll 98 supporting the bladed belt 30 while the roll |00 supports the inner end of the bladed belt 24, two rolls 98 and |86 being neces- Ii:

sary since the belts supported thereby have their operative runs moving in opposite directions. All of the other belt supporting rolls 48, 58, |02 and |04 are of a length to support both belts passing thereover.

As described above, the bladed belts for operating on pieces of work while the latter are supported by the belt Il] and table 20 are carried by a turret 56, the arrangement being such that the turret may be rotated to cause the blades to opi' erate upon all the portions of the surface of a piece of work carried into position below the bladed belts by the work supporting belt I0. In order that the turret may be rotated, it is rotatably supported in the illustrated construction by a shaft IIl'I having journal bearings in the frame of the machine at I2 and I4 (Fig. 1). The shaft is not only rotatable but vertically movable so that the turret may be lowered to bring the bladed belts into contact with the work and subsequently raised to free the work after treatment thereof and to facilitate introduction of a new piece of work. As shown in Fig. 1, the lower end of the shaft III) has pinned thereto a collar I I6 between which and the lower end of a sleeve-like portion 8 of the turret there is provided a roller bearing device |20. Secured to the upper end of the shaft is a gear wheel |22 having teeth of a Width great enough to maintain meshing relation with a gear |24 during up and down movements of the shaft ||0, the gear |24 being splined to a shaft |26 which also carries xedly secured thereto a worm gear |28 in mesh with a worm |30 on a shaft arranged to be driven by suitable connections with a motor |32. Splined to the shaft ||0 in an intermediate portion thereof is a pinion |34 arranged in mesh with two gear wheels |36 and |38 fixed to shafts |40, |42, respectively. At the upper ends of shafts |40, |42 there are fixedly secured pinions |44, |46, respectively, both of these pinions being in mesh with a relatively large gear wheel |48 xedly secured by bolts |50 toa frame member |52. Since the large gear member |48 is stationary, the pinions |44 and |46 during their rotation will cause a corresponding rotation of the turret 56 about the axis of the shaft H0, by which the bladed belts are moved progressively over all portions of the work. It will be observed that the gear wheel |48 has relatively wide teeth so that a meshing connection between the gear wheel |48 and the pinions |44, |46 is maintained during up and down movements of the turret 56.

At the upper end of the shaft ||0 there is fastened a collar |60, the under surface of which is adapted to be engaged by a pair of rolls carried by a forked portion |62 of a lever |64 pivoted at |66 upon the frame of the machine. At its outer end the lever |64 has pivoted thereto a link |68 having at its lower end a hook |10 for engagement with a stop member |12 on an upright post |14 constituting part of the machine frame. The hook |10 may be readily disengaged from the stop member |12 by shoving on a handle |16 mounted on the link member |68 whereupon the turret 56 with the parts carried thereby will be gradually lowered until the bladed belts reach Work treating position, gradual lowering of the turret being provided for by a piston |18 moving in an air chamber |80 in what amounts to a dash-pot con- 1' struction wherein ne adjustment may be made to secure the desired results by a proper manipulation of a valve member |82 in the wall of the chamber |80.

Conveniently, and as shown, the shaft ||0 is provided with connections to drive the bladed belts, said connections comprising a bevel gear |90 (Figs. 1 and 2) pinned to the shaft H0, said gear |90 being arranged in mesh with a pair of bevel gears |92, |94 xedly secured, respectively,

to shafts |96, |98 having journal bearings in portions of the frame of the turret 56. Secured to the shaft |98 is a sprocket wheel 200 (Figs. 2 and 3) about which passes the sprocket chain'46 which passes also around the sprocket wheel 44 to drive the belts 26 and 30 in engagement with the roller 48. Secured to the shaft |96 is a sprocket Wheel 202 about which passes a sprocket chain 203 (Fig. 3) for engagement with a sprocket wheel 204 to drive the shaft which carries the roll |04 fixedly secured thereto to drive the belts 24 and 28. It will be clear from the above description that the two sets of belts 24, 28 and 26, 30, respectively, are driven from the shafts at the outer ends of the belts so that the latter are so operated that the lower runs of the belts are drawn in the direction of the arrows (Fig. 1) to move the blades over the work during work treating operations.

For the best results each skin is placed upon the belt with the backbone line of the skin lying along, or closely adjacent to, and in parallelism with, the longitudinal median line of the work support 20 with the neck portion of the skin in advance of the butt end of the same. With the skin thus. positioned on the belt I0, the latter is caused to travel to bring the central portion of the skin directly below the end of the shaft H0. With some classes of work, particularly skins with heavy necks, the skins may be advantageously placed with the neck portions under the end of the shaft l i0. Movement of the carrying belt |0 is initiated by pressing upon a starting switch located at 2| 8 (Fig. l) on the post 14. Conveniently the skin is placed upon the work carrying belt lil with the transverse median line thereof opposite to a switch controlling member shown in detail in Fig. of the drawings, the arrangement being such that the belt I0 comes to a stop shortly after a notch 2|2 in the adjacent side edge of the belt I0 comes opposite a roll 2|4 carried by a slide 2|6 which is constantly urged to press the roll 2|4 against the edge of the belt by a spring ZIE fastened to a pin 220 on the slide 2|6 and at its other end to a pin 222 secured to a guide member 224 carried by a bracket 226 extending from the table member 2|. When the roll 214 drops into the notch 2|2 the circuit of the motor |6 is broken through a solenoid (not shown) of a well-known type with a delayed action such that the belt continues to move until the notch 2|2 is slightly beyond the roll 2|4, as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. By this arrangement the control device of Fig. 5 is reestablished in working condition through a reengagement of switch members 228, 230 connected respectively to wires 232, 234 in circuit with said motor I6.

When the piece of work has been carried into the desired position by the work carrying belt I0, the operator initiates lowering of the bladed belts carried by the turret 5B into contact with the work by disconnecting the hook from the stop member |12, thus permitting the dash pot (cpmprising piston |18) to lower the bladed belts gradually into contact with the work. The bladed belts will be started into operation, before lowering of the turret, by pressing a starting switch at 240 on the post |14, this switch being connected by suitable wires to the motor |32 which has connections to drive the shaft |0, the latter serving as the source of power for driving the bladed work treating belts. Not only are the belts driven by the shaft H0, but the turret 56 is rotated at a suitable speed through driving connections with the shaft ||0, as above described, with the result that the turret is rotated, thus moving the belts until all portions of the work have been operated upon. The rotation of the turret 56 will be through 180 as a minimum, this being sufficient in most cases. With other skins it may be desirable lto continue the rotation of the turret through as much as 360 during all of which time the bladed belts are operated upon the work. It will be understood that the amount of rotation of the turret will depend upon the condition of the work when it is brought to the machine and will otherwise be varied in accordance with the results desired. For this reason the rotation of the turret is controlled by the operator, who may terminate such rotation at any instant by proper manipulation of a stop switch at 242 (Fig. 1) upon the post |14.

During rotation of the turret 56 the bladed belts are pressed yieldingly against the work by springs 18 on the yoke rods 64 (Fig. 1). Slightly greater pressure while the neck and butt-bend portions of the skin are being operated upon is provided for by high parts 25D (Fig. 3) on the stationary cam member 14 acting upon the pins 12 carried by the moving turret 56. As the pins 12 ride upon the high parts 258 of the cam 14, they rock the bell crank levers 61 in a direction to increase the pressure of the bladed belts upon the work. It will be understood that the lower parts of the cam member 14 are operative to hold the bladed belts yieldingly against the work, through the springs 18, in proper position to operate on the thinner portions of the work lying along the belly and ilank portions of the skin. The described diiferences in pressure upon stated portions of the Work rest upon the assumption that the skins will be placed on the traveling belt I6 with the backbone line of each skin below and substantially parallel to a line passing through the pins 12 (Figs. l and 3). This relative position of the skin and the pins 12 will be readily secured by placing each skin on the belt I0 with its backbone line closely adjacent and substantially parallel to the median longitudinal line of the work supporting belt I0.

At the termination of an operation upon a given skin, the operator reengages the hook |16 with the stop member |12 on the post |14, thus lifting the turret 56 with its bladed belts in an upward direction away from the work, little effort being required on the part of the operator in thus lifting the turret 56 because of a counterweight 252 on the lever 164. While a given piece of work is being operated upon by the bladed belts, another piece of work is placed upon the work carrying belt I8 at the entering end of the machine. At the completion of the treatment on a piece of work the work carrying belt I8 is set in motion by proper manipulation of the starting switch at 2|6 on the post |14, the result being that the piece of work just treated is delivered at the delivery end of the belt I8 while the fresh piece of work is being fed in position below the work treating bladed belts.

For insuring proper delivery of a treated skin from the belt I6 there is provided a delivery or stripper roll 254 (Fig. 1) turning in a direction indicated by the arrow to strip the skin from the belt as its forward end is passing in a downward direction around the roll i8. While any convenient means may be utilized for receiving the skins at the delivery end of the belt I8, there is provided in the illustrated construction a traveling table 256 which moves upwardly and toward the left in Fig. 1 at the same rate of travel as the work carrying belt i9. For moving the table in the manner indicated there is provided a driving device comprising an endless chain 258 passing around sprocket wheels 268, 262, the sprocket 260 being secured to a shaft 264 arranged to be driven by a sprocket chain 26S engaged with a. sprocket wheel (not shown) on the shaft of the roller I8. With this arrangement the sprocket chain 258 is driven at the same rate as the work carrying belt I8. The chain 253 has a lug 21D secured thereto which contacts with an arm 212 fastened to a cross bar -214 at the forward end of a frame 216 to which the traveling table 256 is secured. At the end of the travel of the table 256 to the left in Fig. 1, the lug 210 moves downwardly out of contact with the arm 212, thus permitting the table to run back down an incline formed by a trough-like support 280, the frame member 216 being provided with rollers 282 which serve to facilitate movement of the table along the said trough 288. As the table moves outwardly toward the left in Fig. 1, it pulls a piston 284 out of an air casing 286 by means of a cord or cable 288 so that, upon return of the table downwardly and to the right, it will strike the end of the piston 284 and force it gradually back into the casing 286 whereby the return of the table is retarded and properly cushioned, it being possible to adjust the cushioning eifect by a suitable Valve shown at 29|) at the lower end of the casing 286.

As the skins accumulate upon the upper surface of the delivery table 256 the latter should be progressively lowered with the addition of the skins. While this may be accomplished by hand through proper manipulation of a screw-threaded member 292 (Fig. 1), means may be provided for turning the screw-threaded member 292 through connections comprising a pawl and ratchet mechanism, as indicated in Fig. 6 of the drawings, wherein a ratchet wheel 294 secured at the upper end of a shaft 296 carried by the frame member 216 of the table 256 is arranged to be turned during backward movement of the table by a pawl 298 pivoted at 38|) on the side frame of the machine, the arrangement being such that, each time the delivery table moves downwardly and to the rear in Fig. 1, the screw-threaded member 292 (Fig. l) is given a turn in the direction to lower the delivery table 256, suitable connections, such as a chain 291 (Fig. 6) and sprockets 299 (Fig. 6) and 38| (Fig. l) being provided to drive member 292 from shaft 296. In order that the delivery table 256 may be maintained at the inclination shown, it is supported upon the frame member 216 by parallel lever and link devices 382, 384 of a well-known construction including a connecting link 306.

Upon reference to Figs. 1 and 4 of the drawings it will be observed that the blades 32 are L- shaped members, the horizontal portion of the L being utilized to secure the blade to its carrying belt while the vertical portion serves as a slicker blade arranged to be drawn over the surface of the skins to smooth the grain of the latter, to stretch the skins out in fully extended condition, and to remove a large part of the watery content of the skins. In the said Figs. 1 and 4 each blade 32 is of a length to extend nearly the full width of its carrying belt. However, the blades may be differently arranged upon their carrying belts to suit diiferent classes of work. For instance, upon thicker and heavier work it may is desirable to have certain of the blades extend substantially the full width of the carrying belt as at 3|0, in Fig. 8 of the drawings, while other blades, such as those at 3| 2, are much shorter, it requiring three or four of the shorter blades spaced in end to end relation to each other to extend across the width of the belt. These shorter blades appear to operate more effectively on the work because they are not so much aiected by variations in the thickness of the work as are the longer blades. In other words, the shorter blades apparently accommodate themselves better to variations in the thickness dimensions of the pieces of work undergoing treatment. Where shorter blades are used they are so arranged that spaces between the ends of the short blades in one line thereof are covered by short blades in a succeeding line of such blades. In other words, the short blades are so arranged as to be in staggered relation to each other in the diierent lines of such blades whereby all portions of the work are treated by such lines of blades. To insure that water pressed from the skins will be carried away in the direction of travel of such a bladed belt, full length blades, such as that at 3|0 in Fig. 8, are interposed at regular intervals between sets of short blades. As also indicated in Fig. 8, slicker blades instead of being L-shaped, as in Figs. 1 and 4, may be formed as plates, each carried by a suitable block 3M, the block being of wood or other suitable material.

In operating the machine, a piece of work, such as a tanned sheepskin, is placed upon the work supporting belt |0 after which the said belt is caused to carry the work into position below the bladed work treating belts by proper manipulation of the starting switch at 2 Il) on the post I 14, the work carrying belt ||J being automatically stopped with the work in proper position through operation of a switch control such as that shown in Fig. 5. The operator then initiates lowering of the turret 56, and the bladed belts'carried thereby, by moving the handle |16 to the left in Fig. 1 out of contact with the stop member |12.

Y. The bladed belts are then lowered gradually through the operation of the dash-pot construction including the piston |18. Just before the handle |16 is released from the stop |12, the operator starts the motor |32 by throwing the switch at 240 with the result that the bladed belts are being driven before the blades reach the work to treat the latter, the blades being moved in the direction of the arrows in Fig. 1 and being moved to treat all portions of the work during rotation of the turret 56. Duration of the treatment of a given piece of work is determined by the operator, who may terminate such treatment by lifting the bladed belts away from the work by pulling downwardly upon the handle at |16. Upon placing a fresh piece of work upon the work carrying belt ll and starting the latter in operation the treated piece of work is delivered at the same time that the new piece of work is moved into the machine.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a machine for operating upon hides, skins and leather, a work support having an upwardly facing work supporting surface, a plurality of tools for operating on a piece of work while the latter is backed by said support, and a plurality of oppositely traveling tool carriers, said carriers being arranged in pairs parallel to each other and extending in opposite directions from points in or adjacent to the center of said work support, and the space between thel ends of one pair of oppositely traveling tool carriers being staggered with respect to the space between another pair of similarly arranged carriers. 4

2. In a machine for operating upon hides, skins and. leather, a work support, a plurality of tools for operating on a piece of' work while the latter is backed by said support, and a plurality of endless tool carriers, said carriers being arranged in pairs in end to end relation to each other with their operative tool carrying portions moving in different directions over the work, and the space between one pair of carriers being staggered with respect to the space between another similar pair of carriers.

3. In a machine for operating upon hides, skins and leather, a work support having a substantially flat upwardly facing work supporting surface, a

plurality of tools for operating on a piece of work.

while 1the latter is backed by said support, a plurality of pairs. of endless tool carriers, the carriers of each pair being arranged in end to end relation with their operative tool carrying portions moving in opposite directions over the work, the space between one pair of carriers being staggered with respect to the space between another similar pair of carriers, and means arranged to cause continuous relative rotation between the work support and the bladed tool carriers in the plane of the operative edges of the tools, whereby all portions of the piece of work are treated during said relative rotation of the ktool carriers and work support.

4. In a machine for operating upon hides, skins and leather, a work support, a plurality of tools for operating on the work while the latter is backed by said support, a plurality of tool carriers, said carriers being arranged to have their operative tool carrying portions movable in opposite directions over the work, a turret for supporting the carriers, a shaft arranged to support said turret, and means driven from said shaft to cause rotation of the turret and simultaneously therewith movement of the carriers to cause the tools to operate on the work.

5. In a machine for operating upon hides, skins and leather, a worksupport, a plurality of tools for operating on the work while the latter is backed by said support, a plurality of tool carriers, said carriers being arranged in pairs having their operative tool carrying portions movable in opposite directions over the work, and the adjacent ends of each pair of carriers being overlapped with respect to each other, a turret for supporting the carriers, a vertical shaft mounted for endwise movement to lower the turret until the tools are in contact with the work and to retract said tools from the work, and means driven from said shaft to rotate the turret and simultaneously therewith to drive the tool carriers.

6. In a machine for operating upon hides, skins and leather, a work support, a plurality of tools for operating on the work while the latter is backed by said support, a plurality of endless tool carriers, said carriers being arranged in pairs in end to end relation to each other with their operative tool carrying portions moving in opposite directions over the work, and the space between one pair of carriers being staggered with respect to the space between another similar pair of carriers, a turret for supporting the carriers, a vertical shaft mounted for endwise movement to lower the turret until the tools are in contact with the work and to retract said tools from the work, means driven from said shaft to rotate the turret and simultaneously therewith to drive the tool carriers, said last-mentioned means comprising a stationary gear wheel xed to the frame of the machine with said shaft at the central axis of said gear wheel, and pinions in mesh with said gear wheel and driven from said shaft to cause rotation of the turret during travel of said tool carriers.

'7. In a machine for operating upon hides, skins and leather, a work support, a plurality of tools for operating on the work while the latter is backed by said support, a plurality of carriers arranged to support and operate said tools, a turret to support said carriers, power means under the control of the operator to rotate said turret and Simultaneously therewith drive said tool carriers, said work support comprising an endless belt, and power means under the control of the operator to move the belt to effect positioning of the work in place below said tool Camiers.

8. In a machine for performing putting-out operations upon hides, skins and leather, a blade for operating on a piece of work, a member arranged to carry and to operate said blade, a work support comprising an endless work supporting belt upon which the piece of work is put-out by said blade and to which the put-out piece of work is adherent, power means for moving the belt, a pair of rolls arranged to support and drive said work carrying belt, the roll at the delivery end of said belt being substantially smaller than the roll at the other end thereof, and a stripper roll located closely adjacent to said smaller roll at the delivery end of the belt and below the level of the axis of said smaller roll to remove from the belt the adherent piece of work, said stripper roll being driven in the same direction as the adjacent beltsupporting smaller rol1,andarrangedtotake pieces of work from said work supporting belt as the forward end of each piece of work is passing in a downward direction around the said smaller beltsupporting roll.

9. In a machine for performing putting-out operations upon hides, skins and leather, a blade for operating on a piece of work, a member arranged to carry and to operate said blade, a work support comprising an endless work supporting belt upon which the piece of work is put-out by said blade and to which the put-out piece of work is adherent, power means for moving the belt, a stripper to take adherent pieces of work from said belt, and a delivery table below said stripper and arranged to move at the same rate as said belt and in the direction of movement of the work supporting portion of said belt whereby pieces of work removed from the work supporting belt by said stripper are received by said delivery table in flat condition.

10. In a machine for performing putting-out operations upon hides, skins and leather, a blade for operating on a piece of work, a member arranged to carry and to operate said blade, a work support comprising an endless work supporting belt upon which the piece of work is put-out by said blade and to which the put-out piece of Work is adherent, power means for moving the belt, a stripper to take adherent pieces of work from said belt, a delivery table to receive the work from said stripper, and an endless chain driven from said belt and operative to move said table bodily outwardly beyond the delivery end of said belt at the same rate of travel as the Work supporting portion of said belt whereby the pieces of work are received on the delivery table in fully spread out, flat condition.

11. In a machine for operating upon hides, skins and leather, a tool for operating on the work, a member arranged to carry and to operate said tool, a work support comprising an endless Work supporting belt arranged to support the work during treatment thereof by said tool, power means for moving the belt, a stripper to take pieces of work from said belt, a delivery table below said stripper arranged to move bodily at the same rate as said belt and in the direction of movement of the work supporting portion of said belt whereby pieces of work removed from the work supporting belt by said stripper are received by said delivery table in nat condition, said table being subsequently moved to its initial retracted position, and means for lowering the table after each work receiving trip.

l2. In a machine for operating upon hides, skins and leather, a tool for operating on the work, a member arranged to carry and to operate said tool, a work support comprising an endless work supporting belt arranged to support the work during treatment thereof by said tool, power means for moving the belt, a stripper to take pieces of work from said belt, a delivery table below said stripper arranged to move bodily at the same rate as said belt and in the direction of movement of the work supporting portion of said belt whcreby pieces of work removed from the work supporting belt by said stripper are received by said delivery table in flat condition, and means operated by the table for lowering the latter after each work receiving trip.

13. In a machine for operating upon hides, skins and leather, a tool for operating on the work, a member arranged to carry and to operate said tool, a work support comprising an endless work supporting belt arranged to. support the Work during treatment thereof by said tool, power means for moving the belt, a stripper to take pieces of work from said belt, a delivery table below said stripper arranged to move bodily at the same rate as said belt and in the direction of movement of the work supporting portion of said belt whereby pieces of work removed from the work supporting belt by said stripper are received by said delivery table in ilat condition, a pawl mounted on a stationary part of the machine frame, a screw device carried by the table, and a ratchet wheel connected to said screw device and arranged to be operated by said pawl for lowering the table after each work receiving trip.

14. In a machine for operating upon hides, skins and leather, a work support, a plurality of tools for operating on the work while the latter is backed by said support, a plurality of tool carriers, said tool carriers being arranged to move tools in opposite directions from a central portion of the work outwardly toward marginal portions thereof, means to cause relative rotation of said work support and tool carriers whereby all portions of the work may be operated upon, and means to cause increased pressure of the tools upon the work at predetermined points in such relative rotation of said work support and tool carriers whereby certain portions of the work receive treatment by said tools at greater pressure than other portions.

15. In a machine for operating upon hides, skins, and leather, a work support, a plurality of tools for operating on the work While the latter is backed by said support, a plurality of tool carriers, said tool carriers being arranged to move tools in opposite directions from a central portion of the work outwardly toward marginal portions thereof, means to cause relative rotation of said Work support and tool carriers during movement of the tools over the work whereby all portions of the work may be operated upon, and means to cause increased pressure of the tools upon predetermined marginal portions of the work during such relative rotation of said Work support and tool carriers whereby certain marginal portions of the work receive treatment by said tools at greater pressure than other marginal portions.

16. In a machine for operating upon hides, skins and leather, a work supporting member, a plurality of tools for operating on the work while the latter is backed by said supporting member, a plurality of tool carriers arranged to move tools in opposite directions from the central portion of the work outwardly toward marginal portions thereof, a supporting member for said tool carriers, means to c-ause relative rotation of said supporting members whereby all portions of the Work may be operated upon, and a stationary cam associated with one of said supporting members to cause increased pressure of the tools upon the Work at predetermined points in such relative rotation whereby certain portions of the work receive treatment by said tools at greater pressure than other portions.

17. In a machine for operating upon hides, skins and leather, a work support, a plurality of tools for operating on the work while the latter is backed by said support, a plurality of tool carriers, said tool carriers being arranged to move tools in opposite .directions from a central portion of the work outwardly toward marginal portions thereof, me-ans to cause relative rotation of said Work support and tool carriers whereby all portions of the work may be operated upon, a stationary cam, and connections between said cam and said tool carriers to increase the pressure of the tools upon the work at predetermined points in the relative rotation of said work support and tool carriers whereby certain portions of the Work receive treatment by said tools at greater pressure than other portions.

18. In a machine for operating upon hides, skins and leather, a work support, a plurality of tools for operating on the work while the latter is backed by said support, a plurality of tool carriers, said tool carriers being arranged to move in opposite directions from a central portion of the Work outwardly toward marginal portions thereof, a turret arranged to supportV said tool carriers, means to rotate said turret and to drive said tool carriers simultaneously with said rotation of the turret, and means to increase the pressure of the tools upon the work at predetermined points in the rotation of the turret whereby certain portions of the work receive treatment by said tools at greater pressure than other portions.

19. In a machine for operating upon hides, skins and leather, a work support, a plurality of tools for operating on the work while the latter is backed by said support, a plurality of tool carriers arranged to move in opposite directions from a central portion of the work outwardly toward marginal portions thereof, aturret arranged to support said tool c-arriers, means to rotate said turret and to drive said carriers simultaneously with said rotation of the turret, a cam fastened to the machine frame, and means operated by the stationary cam to increase the pressure on said tool carriers at certain points in the rotation of said turret whereby certain portions of the Work are operated upon by the tools at greater pressure than other portions thereof.

20. In a machine for operating upon hides, skins and leather, a work support, a plurality of tools for operating on the Work while the latter is backed by said support, a plurality of tool carriers arranged to move in opposite directions from a central portion of the work outwardly toward marginal portions thereof, a turret arranged to support said tool carriers, means to rotate said turret and to operate said tool carriers simultaneously with said rotation of the turret, a cam fastened to the machine frame, and bell crank members having connections with said tool carriers and arranged to be operated by said stationary cam during the rotation of said turret whereby the tools are caused to operate upon certain portions of the work at greater pressure than upon other portions thereof.

21. In a machine for operating upon hides, skins and leather, a work support, a plurality of tools for operating on the work while the latter is backed by said support, a plurality of pairs of belts arranged side by side in parallelism with the belts of each pair in end to end relation and with the space between the en-ds of one pair of belts staggered with respect to the space between another pair of belts, four rolls for supporting the belts, each of said rolls being of a length corresponding to the sum of the widths of the belts, a shaft located at the inner overlapping ends of two of the belts, and two rollers on said shaft each of a width to support one belt during rotation of said belts in opposite directions.

22. In a machine for operating upon hides, skins and leather, a plurality of blades for operating upon the work, and a member for carrying and operating said blades, certain of the blades extending substantially the full width of said member while others of the blades are much shorter and are arranged end to end in spaced relation to each other to form a line of blades extending across the width of said supporting and operating member.

23. In a machine for operating upon hides, skins and leather, a plur-ality of blades for operating upon the work, and a member for carrying and operating said blades, a plurality of said blades being arranged in spaced end to end relation to each other to form a line extending across the width dimension of said member, the blades in one line being staggered with relation to the blades in another line, and blades substanti-ally equal in length to the width of said member and arranged at intervals between said lines of shorter blades.

J O-HN I-I. CONNOR. 

